Volunteers To Clean Up Shore Areas Saturday

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – In response to the devastation caused by Super-Storm Sandy, it is clear that the need for volunteers is growing, Clean Ocean Action has launched a long-term volunteer initiative to help the communities and millions of citizens left devastated in the wake of Sandy.

Starting Saturday, Dec. 8, and regularly thereafter, COA will connect community needs throughout the NJ/NY region with the volunteers willing to help through a program called “Waves of Action.” Projects and volunteers register for Dec. 8’s first Wave of Action on a newly developed website, www.ForTheShore.org.

“What Sandy destroyed in 48 hours will take months and years to fix. We established the Waves of Action program to provide a longer-term, sustainable strategy to help heal our coastal communities and protect the quality of our region’s ocean,” said Cindy Zipf, Clean Ocean Action Executive Director, “we hope to help communities go green to save big blue.”

As we stand tall and pull together to recover and rebuild our own homes and lives, many are also donating time for neighbors and communities. Added Lisa Cordova, Clean Ocean Action volunteer and event committee member, “since the storm, a surge of volunteers is one of the top needs for coastal communities.”

“In the aftermath of Sandy, volunteers are ready and eagerly looking to help. Many of the impacted municipalities, businesses, and families are working hard to put their pieces together and may not have the time or energy to recruit and/or direct volunteers,” said Tavia Danch, Clean Ocean Action education coordinator. “Clean Ocean Action is organizing the day of service ‘For the Shore’ to streamline the process of connecting people with projects.”

Starting Saturday, Dec. 8, COA organized the first state-wide “waves of action” days where COA’s network of organizations, businesses, citizens and municipalities from Cape May to Montauk – along the Jersey Shore and the South Shore of Long Island – are identifying and implementing projects that are needed within coastal communities.

Clean Ocean Action has already organized many projects throughout Jersey Shore towns for the first Wave of Action on Saturday, Dec. 8 including, Sea Bright, Long Branch, Toms River, Seaside Park, Atlantic City, and Cape May. Projects are also sprouting up across New York from Jones Beach to Hampton Bays.

“This is a great opportunity for people to make a real impact in Sea Bright,” said Frank Lawrence, Sea Bright Volunteer Coordinator, “restoring our shore communities will take a concerted effort over many months, and we look forward to working with Clean Ocean Action starting on the 8th.”

Types of projects include: beach, town, and park clean-ups; food, household items, and furniture drives; fundraisers for wildlife and communities in need; and/or home clean out and repair. The projects vary based on real, on the ground needs. Over 500 volunteers have already signed up to participate, but Clean Ocean Action is calling for more volunteers and more projects to generate the most help.

Saturday, Dec. 8 is the first Wave of Action to help with the initial recovery from the devastation caused by Sandy, but there will is a long journey forward to rebuild. With this in mind, Clean Ocean Action will continue long-term Waves of Action in the future to help implement a vision of sustainability—restoring better, greener, and bluer coasts.

To register for a project or sign up to volunteer, visit www.fortheshore.org or contact Clean Ocean Action at 1-732-872-0111.